Episode 125: How Mark Black Overcame a Death Sentence and Now Runs Marathons With a Transplanted Heart and Lungs!

"Transform adversity into your competitive advantage." A phrase perhaps heard in any number of motivational talks you've attended, or hard lessons when "life happens" in its many forms and fashions. Our guest today, Mark Black, has experienced adversity we've never encountered before on this show - and that's saying a lot! For you see, Mark was essentially given a death sentence at the age of 23 when he was told he had congestive heart failure and lung failure. And he needed a transplant of both organs, and from the same donor! Against the odds, Mark received his transplant, and went on to inspire everyone around him by running marathons and using his incredible story to encourage those who are going through their own brand of adversity. Enjoy today's show! In this interview with Mark, you'll learn: -Mark's journey through multiple abnormalities from day one...05:00 -Challenges faced throughout childhood after multiple heart surgeries...09:00 -Mark's parents' strategies for teaching resilience and learning from consequences...12:45 -Dealing with congestive heart failure and a heart transplant during the college years...15:00 -Where was Mark internally and spiritually while essentially living in a hospital?...20:46 -Acceptance and adaptation are the key elements of the journey to resilience...26:30 -The Call comes letting know the donated organs are available...29:15 -Reactions spiritually, physically and mentally to carry another person's organs...32:30 -The thought process leading to the decision to run marathons after the transplants...35:00 -Advice to anyone going through immense challenges emotionally or physically...39:15 -Mark's ministry to others in light of overcoming his challenges...43:00 Mark's bio and social handles: TED Talk with Mark Black Mark's personal website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Mark Black is the only man in history to have run a marathon with someone else’s heart and lungs. Born with a life-threatening heart defect, Mark survived two dangerous open-heart surgeries before the age of one. Twenty-two years later, after waiting on the transplant list for nearly a year, Mark was blessed to survive a perilous heart and double-lung transplant, Three years later, he ran his first full marathon. Then he did it, three more times. A resilience expert, speaker, coach, and author, Mark helps people “Break Through” their limitations and transform adversity into their competitive advantage. He is a Certified Speaking Professional has inspired more than 200,000 people at more than 600 organizations including Exxon Mobil and Mercedes Benz. Mark lives in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada with his wife Marise and their three children; Emma, Matteo, and Caleb. Call to action: Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs! To learn more about Wendie and her Visibly Fit program, visit wendiepett.com To find out more about Todd and his coaching program for men, find him on the web at toddisberner.com. All the links you need to subscribe to the podcast are at both our websites! And if you feel so inclined, we'd be honored if you were to leave a rating and review of our show. It definitely helps with us being more visible to more people. And if we like it, we might just read your review on the podcast!